So I went to Walmart last weekend to buy ammo with a friend who wanted to go shooting with me, but that has no guns (so he wanted to buy some of the ammo). I had a busy week that included being best man for his wedding, so I didn't write about this to you guys.

There was a group of people gathering in the sporting goods section waiting for help. I was not the first person there, and after about 20 minutes I asked a woman if someone was coming to help, and she said nobody had asked, they were just waiting. So a man left immediately upon hearing this and asked customer service. He came back and told us that they said that nobody was working in sporting goods that day, and that ammunition could not be purchased, to come back another day.

So most of the people left, except for the woman I had spoken with, and another man who arrived just as the news was broken to us. I immediately grabbed the phone and called for help in sporting goods over the intercom through the store. My friend did the same a minute later, as he was as angry as the rest of us. Me and him had already been talking about just getting the ammo out from behind the glass ourselves, as the moment I had walked into the sporting goods section I looked for a way to help myself without getting help, out of curiosity. I could see there was a keyring on a chain at the back of a cabinet below the register when I made my first rounds around the section looking for 12ga 3.5" buckshot.

Well, that last man left and I hopped the counter and grabbed the keys, unlocked the door, grabbed my ammo, relocked it, returned the keys, and hopped it back and we made a beeline for the registers as if we had done something wrong. Halfway, the man that had just left was coming back and saw the ammo in my hands. I told him what I just did, and he was dissapointed that there really was not any help coming. I offered to do it again, and asked him what he wanted. I told him that I didn't care if I got yelled at by some store security guard, that I was young and willing to handle it. I pretty much just offered to see what his reaction would be, being almost totally certain he'd decline the offer. I was wrong, he said OK, and I was hopping a counter again for 100 rounds of 9mm white box Winchester and 100 of .40 as well.

You should have seen the look on the face of his wife when he explained what I did to her, but he checked out right in front of me in line (hidden in the garden section). Again, it was as if I had done something wrong. If it isn't morally wrong and isn't even illegal, I don't care what store policy is. Screw WalMart, they're obviously full out anti-gun. I haven't seen them restock ammunition in over a year, and now they aren't even allowing people to buy what they still have. Oh also, the gun rack was gone, none for sale. Luckily, the computers weren't set up to not allow ammunition purchases, the stuff rang right up at a price well above what the labels said. Don't worry, I told the cashier, and she punched in what was on the label. I wasn't going to lose that battle too.

Niiiiice. You've got class, man. Keep it up!

Acer

Sweet!! Nice moves man!

WalMart

Hello
Way to IAO! (Improvise, Adapt and Overcome-Kudos to Cobra..)
All of the China-Marts around Houston are no longer carrying guns, and are letting their ammo supplies dry up.
This all started post-Katrina/Rita, so I figured it was due to "Roofie-Fear". However, since you appear to be a long ways from the "roofie-relocation", there may be something larger looming.
I'll say it again, the path for "Weapons Control" will be "Ammo Control". 80%-90% of the firearms currently owned in this Country would be rendered almost immediately impotent if ammo availability were suddenly restricted.

Enough is never enough.

Respectfully posted,

guido2 in Houston

I've got a pretty good Wally world story. Back when you could actually purchase hand gun ammo in NY state without any kind of special permit I used to drive about half an hour to NY and buy Winchester white box 9mm ammo. I know it's a half hour ride and all, but for the price it was usually worth it. Well the last time I bought 9mm ammo at that store I had called up to make sure they had some. I wasn't about to drive for half an hour only to drive back empty handed or with only 2 boxes of 100. I was told that they had at least a dozen boxes. I get to the store and the guy working in sporting goods tells me that he can't sell me any ammo. I ask him WTF is going on and explain that I had driven half an hour after confirming that they did have the ammo. He tells me that he LOST his keys for the gun rack and the ammo cases at some point during the day. I ask him if there's anyone else who has the keys and he tells me that the only other person with keys to those cases isn't working till the next day, sorry, try again tomorrow. So I confirm what the guy is saying, that he's not selling me any ammo because he lost his keys in the store at some point. The keys that open the gun and ammo cabinet, the keys that can be found by any one in the store, and he's sending me home empty handed, and he confirms yes. So I push my way towards the front of the store, cursing this guy out under my breath, and pushing dumb asses out of my way when I see this 4-10" black girl who's name tag says manager. Well, I was gonna tear up anyone who got in my way, and she managed to do that. She looks at me with this confused face as I'm about to walk out the door with empty hands and asks me if I had any problems while in her store. So I turn around and tell her yeah. I tell her exactly what happened at sporting goods and she's frickin' shocked. She just keeps repeating, so the guy said he lost the keys to the guns and the bullets, over and over again, raising her voice every time. So she calls the guy and asks him where his keys are and this dumb ass replys with, why, did you find them? She hangs up on him and walks back there with me and asks him to his face where the fuck his keys are and why he didn't say anything but he's just gonna stand there with a dumb look on his face. She takes me in the back of the store and in to this locked room and wouldn't you know it, the whole room is full of ammo and guns with cables going through them. She asks me what I want and I tell her 10 boxes of the winchesters. I carry this shit to the front of the store and she rings me up. She changed the price from $16.00 a box to $10.00 a box and apologized for the idiot in the back. Yeah, I was in the store for almost an hour dealing with this shit, yeah it frustrated the hell out of me, but you know what? I bought 1,200 rounds of 9mm ammo for $130.00 out the door, and that guy who didn't care about losing his keys was probably gonna be sweeping floors from then on.

+1.

All the Wallyworlds down here are good about ammo purchases.
And they just started carrying shotguns again too.

My china mart quit selling guns, but they still sell ammo. They have put up a sign saying that they won't sell ammo to anyone in possession of a gun, but I figure "don't ask, don't tell" applies here.

They do ask me if I'm 21, white hair mixed in on head and beard notwithstanding. I tell them yes, do they want proof, I'll be 21 twice next year.

Nice one Twin, I can't say I would have had the balls.

I hate that place. The last time I went there to buy anything gun related was a few years ago. They had some ridiculous sale on 10/22s. I don't know how long I had to dick around before getting my answer, but it was a long time and it didn't come easy. Turned out they only had one FFL and he wouldn't be there for a couple of days, he was part time. Couldn't they have just posted a sign at sporting goods? Better yet, hire a full timer?

The story doesn't exactly illustrate how frustrated I was, but in my anger I went down the street to Dicks and for $30 more each I bought two rifles instead of the one I went to Wallmart for. I'm still trying to figure out how that happened.

You need a special permit to buy handgun ammo in NY? I've never tried, because I don't own any handguns or pistol cal carbines.

January 2007 NY state started a new hand gun permit system where you would have an actual card and carry it with you at all times. The card is supposed to list all the pistols you own along with caliber and possible serial number. I'm not too sure about the serial number part, but model and caliber is for sure. The clerk selling you the hand gun ammo is supposed to look at your card and confirm that you own a pistol for the ammo you are purchasing and I'm pretty sure they have to put your permit number on the receipt or something along those lines.
I used to drive up to NY state to get handgun ammo all the time because it was much cheaper and I'm pretty close to NY anyway. Now the only thing I buy from them is 22's and that's only if I happen to be going there already.

Well damn. I knew about the whole pistol permit bullshit, with every handgun you buy having to be "added" to the permit. I just never heard about needed a pistol permit to buy handgun ammo.

That's just ridiculous. So if I were to buy a 9mm AR, I wouldn't even be able to get ammo for it at a store here in NY?
I guess there's always the internet .

In NY state... you are supposed to show your permit to buy handgun ammunition...

HOWEVER....


When you go to buy ammunition for a carbine... such as a Beretta Storm, or a Hi point Carbine... etc... and they tell you you need to produce a pistol permit, you can tell them to piss in their hat, and you own a such and such carbine, and you can buy whatever you need, they can go fuck themselves... and they have to... and they ARE SUPPOSED to sell you the ammo you need... got a 9MM AR15? you are good to go to buy ammo for it.. just say you have a 9mm ar carbine, and they are supposed to give you the ammo you request!

I buy 9mm all the time for my hi point and I have NO pistol permit... no problems yet...

Fucked up but its true...

You're right. You wouldn't be able to get 9mm ammo even though it's for a rifle. at least neither one of the 2 walmarts I've gone to asking.

I just asked some fellow NYers on another board. Everyone said they had no problems buying handgun ammo without a PP.........except at Walmart. I had forgotten that this thread was originally about Walmart , and thought I wouldn't be able to buy pistol ammo anywhere in NY.

So, note to self:
Don't go to Walmart to get handgun ammo, without a PP. Go elsewhere .

On a side note, I do need to apply for a permit. I've gotten the application about 4 times, and it ends up sitting around 'til I lose it. Plus, supposedly, there is a new county judge where I'm at, who is issuing unrestricted permits (with the completion of a $250 course, on top of the $109ish application fee), which was damn near unheard of until this guy took the bench.

Thanks guys, but I don't know if what I did came from balls. It came from "I only have six hours of daylight left, and these targets need holes in 'em!"

Yeah, if you have a gun, why would you need ammo??? doesn't make sense........ another brilliant wally world move..

Well... I want to add...

I went to walmart TONIGHT... at like 6 PM... ( its now 7 pm...)

I bought two 550 round packs of federal .22LR, three 20 rd. boxes of .308 win SP, and three 100 round boxes of win. 9mm..

Let me say I didnt have ONE BIT of trouble... they looked at me and said... " you are over 16..." and when the " permit required beep" happened for the 9mm, they looked at me, questioningly... I said Hi point carbine... they nodded affirmation, hit the button, gave me a total, I paid and walked out... DONE!

Very simple... for once...

Indy, you must live in one fantastic great free state . Isn't this America?! What is going on?

At my local Walmart every type of shotshell is on shelves away from the counter as well as some less popular calibers of centerfires such as .303 7.62x54 and 7.62x39 and value packs of 9mm and .223 just grab it and walk up front pay, leave, and have fun. I'm sorry about the troubles y'all go through just to buy ammo

About the same here.
Rifle & pistol ammo behind the counter and the shotgun shells are out in the isle for easy access.

What's up? OK, here is my china-mart story. Back in '97 I ran into a chinamart to grab 2 boxes of .40 cal because I was on my to my parents farm and I had a new Glock itching to be fired. I run in the store, jot down to sporting goods and ask the old man for 2 boxes of .40 cal. ammo. He looks at me and steps back as if I had done something. I thought to myself what's this all about? but didn't really think much of it until he informed me that he was required by federal law to ask if I had ever been convicted of spousal abuse! I was in shock, I froze in my tracks. I said, excuse me? And he repeated his question. I looked at him and said Sir, I want you to show me the books that the BATF sent you stating that you are required by federal law to ask me such and insulting question! He was unable to find any documents, so he admits his manager told him to ask. So I asked to speak to the manager. He calls and calls and finally SHE shows up. So I begin questioning her and she gets this I can require anything I want attitude. When I request the BATF copy she snaps I don't have to show you a thing! I inform her that I am a FFL holder and deal in guns and there is no such law. So I ask for the store manager, of course back in the day (and maybe so today as well) they have a Area manager! So I had to go through this dillweed to get to the manager. So he comes out, and she runs to him and has one of those secret under the breath conversations and he comes over and says, I have been informed of the situation and I support my managers decision in this case. I say, okie, now let me talk to the manager. They try to convince me he will see it their way and I should just go. But I refuse. Few minutes later store manager shows up. They have a secret meeting that last about 3 seconds when the manager steps back and asks loudly "YOU WHAT"!!? He comes right to me, apologizes, says he has no excuse for what has happened and he just begins to apologize more and more. Offering me discounts on the ammo. The lady says something to him, and he swings around and says to her, you don't have a job here, what you think has no bearing on business of the wal mart stores! She starts crying and runs off, I told him to fire the employee and I would be back with an attorney on Monday. Long story longer, I hired an attorney and Wal mart never contested, settled out of court for $4500 and legal fees/court cost. Everyone involved was fired and I have not been in a chinamart since.

Can you belive the jugs on that chick, to require the employees to ask such a question because you are buying ammo? I hope chinamart goes out of business! Yesterday would not be soon enough.

Now THAT is some bullshit! I wouldn't have been able to keep my cool in that situation. I love how some people think they run the show, when they really don't .

I guess the moral of the story is....DONT shop at Walmart. You are paying for the service you get. You want it cheap...you get it cheap. That place is a toilet, I refuse to shop there. I have a Bi-Mart about 1/2 a mile from my house, they have a good selection of long guns, ammo, hunting gear etc., and more importantly they have knowledgable staff and I have never a had a bad experience shopping there. Is their ammo $.75 a box more than Walmarts? Yes. Do I give a shit? NO.

The people in the sporting goods section are usually pretty friendly at my local Wal-Mart. And with their ammo prices, they would really have to piss me off to make me stop going there.

Man, these are good stories.

I was at a WalMart at about 8 or 9pm one day, and went over to the ammo section. There was nobody there, as they don't want to sell ammo, but one saw me and called for help. A guy came by and asked what I needed. I told him I wanted to buy some ammo. He told me state law forbids you to buy ammo after 5pm. I left, I haven't been to that WalMart since. When you go that far out of your way to avoid selling somebody something....

Add: That's not a law, there isn't even a time law for purchase of firearms. That guy was full of shit.

WallMart blows. I never go there if it is at all avoidable. I will pay more to trade at a reputable merchant.

The never tried this spousal abuse crap on me. I would also sue them for pulling that stunt on me.

In December the sales man told me to get as much ammo before the prices go up after the first of the year which they did. Most of them were decent to me but many China Mart stores did stop selling guns and in Cleveland, Ohio they don't even have ammo, maybe that's why it's called 'the Mistake on the Lake'. Last summer I was in South Carolina and the Wal Mart stores there still sell guns but the Southern Ohio ones only sell ammo.

"She takes me in the back of the store and in to this locked room and wouldn't you know it, the whole room is full of ammo and guns with cables going through them."

Ok. . . When the Zombies attack, I'm definately raiding the local Walmart now. . .

For the 30" barreled birdguns and piles of birdshot?

Hey, something's better than nothing. Would you rather get shot trying to raid the local gun store?

Acer